bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Coco Feng

Che Pan

Masha Borak

Bitcoin miners are looking for workarounds to Beijing’s new cryptocurrency crackdown in China, which accounts for two-thirds of global bitcoin mining, with some going underground or looking at moving operations overseas, possibly to places with much more expensive electricity.
A few big operators have halted China operations and are relocating mining projects to North America or Central Asia. Small miners, sometimes just individuals who keep a few computers humming at home, may choose to keep operating while hoping regulators do not go after them.
Chinese provinces like Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Sichuan are no longer the havens they once were for mining operations, which set up shop in these locations because of the relatively low electricity costs. Inner Mongolia has already issued orders to shut down all mining sites, and Sichuan is expected to soon follow suit.


Jiang Zhuoer, founder of mining service BTC.TOP, told the South China Morning Post that he was thinking of moving his company’s machines to North America and Central Asia. “North America has the best security and political environment for mining, but the cost is high. Central Asia is close to Xinjiang,” Jiang said.
Moving operations out of China is only part of the cost he is facing, though. Taking the machines offline means losing out on what Jiang estimates to be two to four weeks of time that could be spent mining more cryptocurrency.
Xinjiang alone accounts for nearly 36 per cent of the global bitcoin hash rate, a measure of the total computational power on the global bitcoin network, according to Cambridge University’s Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index. Sichuan and Inner Mongolia come in second and third, respectively, giving China a 65 per cent share of the global hash rate.
On May 21, China’s Financial Stability and Development Committee, the financial regulatory agency under Vice-Premier Liu He, said the Chinese government would “crack down on bitcoin mining and trading behaviour, and resolutely prevent the transfer of individual risks to the society”. The announcement came in a response to volatile cryptocurrency prices.




BTC.TOP, Huobi and HashCow – all major mining companies in mainland China – have since halted all or part of their mining operations in the country.
A Huobi representative said in a statement that the halt of mining services would “be more focused on the expansion of our overseas presence”, without elaborating. HashCow, which says on its website that it has 10 mining farms in Sichuan, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, did not immediately respond to questions about its future plans.
“It takes time for the signal from the central government to pass on to local governments, which will take different enforcement measures,” said Benjamin Gu, a blockchain and cryptocurrency expert who founded Liyan Consulting. “Inner Mongolia has banned mining, while Sichuan provincial officials will hold a meeting to study the issue on June 2.”
Jiang said on the microblogging site Weibo that he does not think that mining will be immediately killed off in China. He estimates that the industry has an annual output of 100 billion yuan (US$15.7 billion) and employs hundreds of thousands people.
Major Chinese bitcoin exchange suspends mining services to mainland
Even if the government forced mining companies to shut down, it might afford the industry time to handle the process. When Beijing banned cryptocurrency exchanges in 2017, companies had a few months to shut down or move overseas, Jiang said on Weibo.
The new policies might kill large-scale mining farms, Jiang said, but not individual miners.
One miner from China’s southern Guangdong province, who asked for anonymity due to the changing regulatory environment, said the latest crackdown took him by surprise, but he does not plan to stop mining at home.
“It’s hard to enforce [a ban on individuals], as individual miners are too small to be spotted,” he said. His three-laptop mining rig only adds 108 yuan on his monthly power bill, he said, while generating about 2,100 yuan in cryptocurrency.
‘A thing of the past’: China’s fading place in global bitcoin mining
Another concern from the crackdown is the knock-on effect for related hardware. A Beijing-based miner said his deal to sell second-hand graphics cards to a mining peer in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, was scuttled when the buyer cancelled because of the policy change. Graphics cards are a key component for powerful mining machines.
Larger mining operations looking to get out of the business might also be looking to offload some of their equipment. If that happens, though, it is unlikely to have much of an effect on the price of mining machines, according to Nishant Sharma, founder and chief executive of the cryptocurrency-focused consulting firm BlocksBridge.
“The supply crunch of mining machines is more severe than ever before, a result of the ever-increasing demand and the global chip shortage,” Sharma said, noting that cryptocurrency miners need to place orders with manufacturers six to 12 months in advance for the newest models.﻿


Bitcoin miners: China’s cryptocurrency crackdown pushes companies overseas

FILE PHOTO: A small toy figure and representations of the virtual currency Bitcoin stand on a motherboard in this picture illustration taken May 20, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

A bitcoin mining data centre is seen on an oilfield in northern Texas on May 6, 2021. Cryptocurrency mining requires a lot of energy, which has led to much it being concentrated in China, where electricity is cheap. Now an ensuing crackdown is pushing some operators to consider moving to North America. Photo: AFP

Tech

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China Business

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China

Money & Wealth

Knowledge

Places

Xinjiang


Large bitcoin mining companies are looking at moving to North America and Central Asia after taking advantage of cheap electricity in China
Beijing recently announced a new crackdown on bitcoin mining in response to volatile price swings, but the country still accounts for 65 per cent of mining



Large bitcoin mining companies are looking at moving operations to North America and Central Asia after taking advantage of cheap electricity in China, which recently initiated a new crackdown in response to volatile price swings.


China technology

Bitcoin

Blockchain

Bitcoin miners: China’s cryptocurrency crackdown pushes companies overseas

Large bitcoin mining companies are looking at moving to North America and Central Asia after taking advantage of cheap electricity in China Beijing recently announced a new crackdown on bitcoin mining in response to volatile price swings, but the country still accounts for 65 per cent of mining

Large bitcoin mining companies are looking at moving to North America and Central Asia after taking advantage of cheap electricity in China

Beijing recently announced a new crackdown on bitcoin mining in response to volatile price swings, but the country still accounts for 65 per cent of mining